Require masks for Murfreesboro City Schools
Require masks for Murfreesboro City Schools
The Issue
A Covid vaccine is not currently available for children under the age of 12. Rutherford County is experiencing a sudden surge of Covid-19 cases among children. Masks are not currently required in Murfreesboro City Schools exposing these most vulnerable children to a higher risk of infection. Masks were required in early March when the case numbers were the same but with a downward trend.
On 3/1/2021 there were 567 new cases reported in Tennessee.
On 7/1/2021 there were 303 new cases reported in the Tennessee.
On 8/1/2021 there were 1,698 new cases reported in Tennessee.
(data from Univ. TN Knoxville & TN State Data Center Tennessee COVID-19 Case Tracker)
On 8/6/2021 The Tennessean reported:
"Health Commissioner Dr. Lisa Piercey said the accelerated spread of the delta variant, on top of an unexpected rise of an unrelated respiratory disease, is on pace to completely fill children's hospitals across the state by the end of next week. “All of them,” an exasperated Piercey said Thursday, adding later: "Never in my career have I seen hospitals full in the summer."
This dramatic increase in Covid-19 among children calls for an emergency meeting of the Murfreesboro City School Board to institute a mask requirement for Murfreesboro City Schools and the option of distance learning as there was in the March 2021.
The Murfreesboro City School Board should determine rubric for the removal of the mask requirement based on new cases and transmission rates and make this public. A rubric should also be established to determine when individual schools should temporarily go to distance learning and when they can resume classes as normal.
Governor Bill Lee has threatened legislative action against districts that require masks or close. The Murfreesboro City School Board must show greater leadership and protect the most vulnerable children. I have personally contacted each member of the Board and have been told that while it is concerning, there is nothing more they can do. This is unacceptable.
My son is 10 years old, too young for a vaccine and attends a Murfreesboro City School. His fear of Covid-19 was made personal when his grandfather was admitted to the hospital twice due to this virus. He is scared to go to school. A child should never be scared at school.
My older son is 14 and has had both of his vaccination shots. He attends a Rutherford County School and wears a mask (while not required to do so) to protect his little brother.
Please do your part to help protect the children in our community and sign this petition.
The Issue
A Covid vaccine is not currently available for children under the age of 12. Rutherford County is experiencing a sudden surge of Covid-19 cases among children. Masks are not currently required in Murfreesboro City Schools exposing these most vulnerable children to a higher risk of infection. Masks were required in early March when the case numbers were the same but with a downward trend.
On 3/1/2021 there were 567 new cases reported in Tennessee.
On 7/1/2021 there were 303 new cases reported in the Tennessee.
On 8/1/2021 there were 1,698 new cases reported in Tennessee.
(data from Univ. TN Knoxville & TN State Data Center Tennessee COVID-19 Case Tracker)
On 8/6/2021 The Tennessean reported:
"Health Commissioner Dr. Lisa Piercey said the accelerated spread of the delta variant, on top of an unexpected rise of an unrelated respiratory disease, is on pace to completely fill children's hospitals across the state by the end of next week. “All of them,” an exasperated Piercey said Thursday, adding later: "Never in my career have I seen hospitals full in the summer."
This dramatic increase in Covid-19 among children calls for an emergency meeting of the Murfreesboro City School Board to institute a mask requirement for Murfreesboro City Schools and the option of distance learning as there was in the March 2021.
The Murfreesboro City School Board should determine rubric for the removal of the mask requirement based on new cases and transmission rates and make this public. A rubric should also be established to determine when individual schools should temporarily go to distance learning and when they can resume classes as normal.
Governor Bill Lee has threatened legislative action against districts that require masks or close. The Murfreesboro City School Board must show greater leadership and protect the most vulnerable children. I have personally contacted each member of the Board and have been told that while it is concerning, there is nothing more they can do. This is unacceptable.
My son is 10 years old, too young for a vaccine and attends a Murfreesboro City School. His fear of Covid-19 was made personal when his grandfather was admitted to the hospital twice due to this virus. He is scared to go to school. A child should never be scared at school.
My older son is 14 and has had both of his vaccination shots. He attends a Rutherford County School and wears a mask (while not required to do so) to protect his little brother.
Please do your part to help protect the children in our community and sign this petition.
Petition Closed
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The Decision Makers
Petition created on August 7, 2021